Archives: Strategic Approaches

The potential of using sophisticated hydrological models to support the decision-making process is pointed out in the graphs below. Also, the effectiveness of different nutrient reduction measures is analysed in graphs. Three different scenarios are presented. The concentrations presented in graphs refers to nitrogen runoff from fields to waterbodies.

The results presented here are based on the hydrological models MACRO and SOILN for MACRO used for water quantity and quality modelling in field scale.

Graph 1 shows the annual average concentrations of nitrogen coming from a corn field with different amount of fertilizer usage (260 or 280 kg/ha). The nitrogen concentrations do not only depend on the fertilizer usage but are strongly affected by the annual precipitation rate. The precipitation rate changes year-by-year so the impact of fertilizer usage to water quality in the surrounding ditches differs quite significantly. This has to be taken into account before implementing some nutrient reduction measures and strategies.

Graph 2 shows the average nitrogen concentrations for a 10-year period for corn and barley at different level of fertilization. Hydrological models can be used to calculate the maximum level of annual fertilizer usage for different crop types to keep the water quality parameters in the surrounding ditches in the acceptable range.

Graph 3 shows the effect of depth of drainage in peatlands to the average nitrogen concentrations over a 10-year period. Modelling can be used to support the decision-making process – we can improve the water quality in drained peatlands if we use shallow ditches for drainage.

Many hazardous substances are still in use in the catchment area of the Baltic Sea. The environmental concentrations of hazardous substances can be calculated by applying multi compartment models, where the catchment area is divided into several smaller areas and boxes. The conditions in a specific area or box are considered to be uniform. A new model was set up for the pilot catchment area of river Fyris in Sweden to give an example but also to form a part in a larger model of the Baltic Sea (Björlenius et al., 2018). Input data were land area, land use, soil type, specific runoff coefficients, flows and concentrations of model substance in effluent from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and on-site sewage facilities (OSSF) and net precipitation. The main river basin was divided into 867 boxes in series. The model was used to simulate environmental concentrations of several hazardous substances among heavy metals and pharmaceuticals of which results for cadmium (Cd) and carbamazepine (CBZ) are presented below.

Figure 1. Measured and simulated concentration of cadmium in river Fyris catchment area.

Generally, the concentration of cadmium increases along the river. At tributaries, where branches of the river float together, concentration can increase or decrease depending of the concentrations. The conditions and contribution of river branches are presented in the boxes (Figure 1).

Figure 2. Calculated mass flow of cadmium in river Fyris catchment area.

The mass flow diagram (Figure 2) shows the relative contribution of the mass of cadmium. The WWTP seems to be the only point source of cadmium in the river Fyris catchment area, contributing with 5% of the total mass of cadmium. Another specific area of interest is the urban area of Uppsala which contributes with 11% of the cadmium. Finally, the river Sävjaån contributes with the majority of cadmium, 53%, preliminary due to higher specific runoff from marshy land areas. The results from the simulation have initiated a more detailed sampling and evaluation to track the sources of cadmium in river Sävjaån. This example shows the importance of mapping hazardous substances to facilitate focus among stakeholder measures.

Figure 3. Mass flow of cadmium discharged from river Fyris versus water flow during 2002-2017.

Mass flow of cadmium increases with higher flow. It is not only the higher hydraulic flow that gives the higher mass flow of cadmium, the concentration of cadmium increases as well with a higher hydraulic flow, due to higher losses of cadmium from land areas.

The anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine is abundant in watersheds and lakes and it has been detected even in offshore areas in the Baltic Sea (Björlenius et al., 2018) and carbamazepine is therefore a good candidate in the modelling of environmental concentrations in river catchment areas.

Figure 4. Measured and simulated concentration of carbamazepine in river Fyris catchment area.

Carbamazepine is present in the water along river Fyris. In the upper parts of the river basin, carbamazepine comes from small WWTPs and OSSFs (Figure 4). The major contribution of carbamazepine in the river Fyris catchment area, 88 %, comes from the effluent from Uppsala WWTP. Based on several sampling occasions, the total annual amount of carbamazepine discharged from river Fyris is 22 kg per year, which makes up 0.6 % of the total annual load from all countries around to the Baltic Sea.

Pilot tests in the Waterchain project has shown that carbamazepine can be removed from WWTP effluent by applying ozonation or activated carbon. The removal efficiency exceeded 98% (Beijer et al., 2017).

• Reference:
  Beijer, K., Björlenius, B., Shaik, S., Lindberg, R.H., Brunström, B., Brandt, I., 2017. Removal of pharmaceuticals and unspecified contaminants in sewage treatment effluents by activated carbon filtration and ozonation: Evaluation using biomarker responses and chemical analysis. Chemosphere 176, 342–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.127
• Björlenius, B., Ripszám, M., Haglund, P., Lindberg, R.H., Tysklind, M., Fick, J. (2018). Pharmaceutical residues are widespread in Baltic Sea coastal and offshore waters – Screening for pharmaceuticals and modelling of environmental concentrations of carbamazepine. Sci. Total Environ. 633:1496-1509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.276

• Activated carbon
• Ozonation
• Precipitation
• Ion exchange
• Nanofiltration
• Ultrafiltration

Hazardous substances include a variety of chemical compounds and characteristics which makes it impossible to apply specific removal methods for each chemical substance. Most of end-of-pipe measures, especially for treating waste water and storm waters can reduce the load of several substances simultaneously – cross-substance effect.

The solution is to find out and implement broad methods that can remove as many substances as possible in the same treatment step. Such general methods are oxidation with ozonation, adsorption with activated carbon and membrane filtration (technology). These treatment steps are normally added as the final treatment step at the wastewater treatment plant.

To find the best available technology for removal of hazardous substances use this table: Removal of Hazardous Substances

First step: Analyse possible sources of hazardous substances in the watershed.
Second step: Detect the specific hazardous substances pointed out in first step.
Third step: Select treatment technology, taking into acount cross-substance effect and removal efficiency.

• Biological activated carbon
• Membrane bioreactor
• Microalgae
• Fungi
• Microbiological treatment

As conventional wastewater treatment methods are not able to completely degrade and remove all the pollutants, the research of alternative treatment technologies for wastewater treatment represents an actual and advanced topic. At the moment, other approaches such as biological treatment with microalgae, fungi, also use of membrane bioreactors and biological activated carbon, are under investigation.

Despite continuous improvements and developments of these biological methods, key challenges that still need to be overcome to apply these methods for big-scale treatment, are fouling control and economic issues. However, already these biological methods have demonstrated effective removal of a wide range of emerging hazardous substances from wastewater, for instance, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), antibiotics, personal care products, endocrine disrupting chemicals, offering great potential in wastewater treatment in the coming decades.

Table: Emerging techniques for hazardous substance removal

“Independent of human impact, our raw water is of excellent quality, and ecosystems in the lakes are in balance. At the same time the production and distribution of drinking water is carried out in a sustainable way.”

The vision explained:

”Independent of Human Impact”
Human activities include wastewater, use of pharmaceuticals, hazardous substances and harmful particles. In the precipitation area, the human activity does not affect the raw water in a negative way.

”Raw water”
Lakes and ground water; and in some cases, sea and coastal water.

” Excellent quality”
The water complies with all regulatory requirements and is clean and healthy.

”The ecosystems in the lakes are in balance”
Lakes with ecosystems in balance can withstand more and manage to recover at temporary loads.

”Sustainable drinking water production”
Water production within the framework of the four sustainability principles. :

In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing…
1. … concentrations of substances from the earth’s crust.
2. … concentrations of substances produced by society.
3. … degradation by physical means.

And in that society there are no structural obstacles to…
4. … people’s health, influence, competence and impartiality.

Core values for a sustainable drinking water supply for Åland

The core values that have been identified as particularly important for us working for a sustainable drinking water supply for Åland are:

• Solidarity/inclusion
• Responsibility
• Openness/transparency
• Participation
• Long-term advancement

Strategic development goals for a sustainable drinking water supply for åland until the year 2030.

1. In the year 2030, 95 % of the Åland population make active decisions and take active responsibility in their everyday life from a water protection perspective.
2. The ecological status, concerning nutrients, in our raw water lakes have stabilized at a good level according to the Water Framework Directive by 2030 and at an excellent level by 2051.
3. The knowledge of harmful substances in the raw water has increased significantly by 2025, reduced to non-harmful levels by 2030 and emissions have ended in 2051.
4. The risks of contamination of microbiological compounds related to human activity have been minimized and detection and warning systems have been established, in established/present raw water lakes by 2020 and in reserve water lakes by 2051.
5. The adequate access to water, concerning both quality and quantity, has been ensured by 2030. Sub-objectives include establishing new water resources by 2018, and action programs for the same will be established by 2020. The water quality is good by 2030.
6. In the catchment areas, business activities are flourishing and do not affect water quality in the lakes in a negative way. New innovative methods have been developed and implemented through cooperation across the sectors.
7. The biodiversity is high in and around the lakes, and ecosystems are well functioning (in balance).

Solutions for a sustainable drinking water supply identified in the process comprises a table of about 10 pages and has been categorized according to these categories:

• Overall process measures for sustainable drinking water supply
• New raw water lakes / water protection areas
• Legislation / rules / supervision / economic instruments
• Infrastructure; roads / construction / industry / planning
• Information / communication / collaboration / facts / training
• Agriculture / forestry / fishing / sewer / water conservation
• Innovations / “New Thinking” concerning use of water

• If possible, all energy should be generated with renewable sources.
• Energy consumption should be monitored. Yearly gathered consumption data should be evaluated and compared.
• Led lights can be used in places where possible. Light sensors that switch the lights off in daytime can be used to make sure that lights are only on when it is needed.

• Festivals should have a waste management plan which defines for example cleaning schedules and responsibilities related to cleaning.
• The festival area should have enough reasonably placed trash bins.

• The festival area should have enough and reasonably placed public lavatories to prevent urination in the nature.
• If possible, the festival should be connected to the local domestic and/or waste water system.
• The festival area should have enough drinking water fountains with suitable water pressure. These points could have automatic taps to save water.
• The efforts to reduce the environmental load caused by wastewater could be brought up in marketing.

• The festival should favor local actors when possible to minimize emissions from transportations.
• The festival should encourage visitors to arrive by walking, cycling, public transportation or carpooling. Festivals can give information and schedules about public transportation in their website.

• If possible, the location for the festival should be picked in way that noise and light cause minimal harm outside the festival area.
• The festival should be aware of BAT (Best Available Technology) and implement it to their actions.
• When planning audio and lights, the shape of the ground and its special characteristics should be taken into consideration.

• Goods used at the festival can be stored and re-used the following year. The festival can rent or borrow used furniture.
• The necessity of the products should be considered carefully. Attention should be paid to manufacturing processes and materials.
• It’s important to collaborate with local partners who are also interested in environmental issues.
• Festivals can obligate partners to take environmentally friendly actions by agreements. For example, using only biodegradable service ware.
• To reduce plastic waste, drinks should be served straight from the bottle/can.
• It’s important to pay attention to life cycles of all purchased products.

• The festival should use digital marketing to replace the conventional printed marketing.
• The festival should become acquainted with local environmental protection work and projects related to it. Collaboration with schools, projects and other parties is highly recommended.
• The festival can use local students, organizations or consultants to develop/update their environmental plan.
• Merchandise can be changed to more environmentally friendly ones. For example, normal cotton can be changed to hemp, bamboo or organic cotton. If possible printing and sewing work can be done by local companies.
• Seasonal workers should be engaged in the festival’s environmental values by a proper introduction.
• Each year the festival should pick and carry out an environment related theme.